Phl lifts decade-long ban on Japanese beef

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is now allowing the entry of Japanese beef after a decade-long ban due to the outbreak of mad cow disease in Japan.

The Philippines banned the entry of Japanese beef in 2001 following the outbreak of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or mad cow disease.

Talks for the resumption for exports commenced in 2004 and were concluded recently.

As of last year, the World Organization for Animal Health said Japan has a “negligible risk” of mad cow disease.

In a statement, the Japanese embassy in Manila said discussions with the Philippine government on the re-entry of Japanese beef into the Philippine market had been finalized.

“Since 2004, both governments of the Philippines and Japan have been discussing animal health conditions to import Japanese beef from Japan to the Philippines. The discussion has recently been finalized and the Philippine government has finally approved the importation of Japanese beef from Japan,” the embassy said.

The Philippines and the Animal Quarantine Service of Japan (AQS) will soon start issuing the foreign meat establishment (FME) certificates to the accredited exporters.

These certificates will accompany beef shipments.